Knockdown crab-trap.



B.- SVOBODA.

KNOGKDOWN GRAB TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1912.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

r UNITED S WENT OFFICE.

BOHUMIL SVOBODA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KNOGKDOWN GRAB-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BOHUMIL SvoBoDA, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Knockdown Crab-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

This invention .relates to a knockdown crab trap of novel construction which permits the crabs to be safely landed and to be dumped into a suitable receptacle without permitting them to molest the operator.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is aplan of a crab trap embodying my invention, showing it set; Fig. 2 a side view thereof; Fig. 3 a detail of the frame locking mechanism; Fig. 1 a perspective view of one corner of the trap showing it closed, and Fig. 5 a detail of one of the springs and adjoining parts.

The trap comprises essentially an openwork bottom plate A of square or similar shape, which is shown to be composed of a heavy continuous outer wire 10 and a plurality of intersecting inner wires 11 stretched across the outer wire to constitute a net. To two opposite sides of plate A are hinged a pair of opposed foldable frames B, each composed of a pair of shanks 12 that diverge from top to bottom where they terminate in eyes 13 that encompass wire 10 at the cor ners of plate A. At the top, the two shanks 12 of each frame B are connected by a short cross wire 14: from which depends a ring or string guide 15. Means are provided for so connecting the two frames B with each other that the planes between the sides of the frames will be substantially equal to the frames themselves, or in other words, the two frames when connected will form a truncated cone. These connecting means consist of a pair of cross pieces 16, each bent to form a central ring or thread guide 17 and a pair of upwardly converging members 18. One of these members is at 19 hingedly connected to one of the frames B, while the other member is adapted to engage a keeper 20 fitted to the other frame. Thus by swinging the cross pieces outward and interlocking them with the keepers, the frames will be sustained in their righted position, as will be readily understood.

To each of the four sides of bottom plate 10, there is hinged a tapering open work side plate C, the form of which corresponds substantially to that of frame B. Each Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4., 1913.

Application filed September 19, 1912. Serial No. {721,223.

heavy continuous outer wire bent to form a lower section 21, a pair of upwardly or outwardly converging shanks 22, and a short upper section 23. Of these, the length. of the lower section 21 corresponds. substantially to that of plate A, the length and dip of the converging shanks 22 correspond substantially to the length and dip of shanks 12, while the length of upper section 23corresponds substantially to that of cross piece 14. Across the outer wire, bent as described are stretcheda plurality of intersectinginner wires 2tto constitute a net.

Plates C are loosely hinged toplate A by means of rings 25, which permit plates C to be folded either upward to rest against mines; B, or downward to lie fiat against the lower face of plate A. Between plate A and each plate C, there is further formed a spring connection which tends to throw plate C out-ward into a horizontal position, so that it will occupy the same horizontal plane as plate A. This spring connection comprises a spiral spring 26 coiled with one end around wire 10 and prolonged at its other end to form an arm 27 which is conis secured one end of'a string 29, the four strings passing separately through the four rings 15, 17 and being adapted to be grasped at their other end by the hand of the operator.

In use, the bait is placed upon bottom plate A, the device is by means of the strings lowered upon the seaor river bottom, and then the strings are released to permit the side plates G to open (Fig. 1). When a crab has moved upon the bottom plate, the device is drawn up by means of the strings, by which operation the side plates will be simultaneously folded inward again-st frames side plate is shown to be composed of a I B, to close the trap in themanner india small flat package which occupies a minimum amount of space.

I claim:

1. A crab trap comprising a bottom plate, a pair of opposed tapering frames hinged thereto, stringguides on the frames, means for removably connecting the frames, spring-controlled side plates also hinged to the bottom plate, and stringsseoured to the side plates and engaging the string-guides.

2. A crab trap comprising a bottom plate, a pair of frames hinged thereto, stringguides on the frames, a cross piece pivoted to one of the frames and adapted to engage the other frame, a string-guide on the cross piece, spring-controlled tapering side plates also hinged to the bottom plate, and strings secured to the side plates and engaging the string-guides 3. A crab trap comprising a bottom plate, a pair of opposed tapering frames hinged thereto, string-guides at the upper ends of said frames, a pair of cross pieces having converging outer members and additional string-guides, means for pivoting one of said converging members to one of said frames, a keeper on the other frame adapted to removably engage the'other converging mem ber, spring-controlled tapering side plates also hinged to the bottom plate, and. strings secured to the side plates and engaging the string-guides.

4. A crab trap comprising a bottom plate, a pair of frames hinged thereto and adapted to be folded-against one side thereof,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

